A new organisation formed in "response on one hand to the sustained hate propaganda and the celebration of violence by the Sangh Parivar and its affiliates, and on the other to fanatics and extremists among Muslims who claim to be the sole representatives of the Muslim Community."

We the people of India gave ourselves, 52 years ago, a Constitution based on the
principles of Secularism, Democracy and Pluralism.

Secularism, which rejects the concepts of a theocratic state and majoritarian rule, which
separates matters of faith and affairs of the State.

Democracy, which guarantees Fundamental Rights to every Citizen of India and Equality
before the Law.

Pluralism, which celebrates the rich cultural and social diversity of India, a unique
feature of our nation.

Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD) affirms its commitment to the values enshrined
in the Constitution of India and is dedicated to reclaim it for the Indian people. MSD is a
response, on one hand to the sustained hate propaganda and the celebration of violence
by the Sangh Parivar and its affiliates, and on the other to fanatics and extremists among
Muslims who claim to be the sole representatives of the Muslim Community. MSD firmly opposes their narrow-minded, reactionary and archaic mindsets.

The first national meeting of MSD, held on October 1, 2003 at Mumbai was attended by
several prominent Muslims from Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Jalgaon, Malegaon, Bhopal,
Delhi and Hyderabad. The meeting decided to adopt a Declaration, which is the result of
several months of formal and informal deliberations across a cross section of Muslims in
Mumbai and Maharashtra. The declaration addresses several issues which have been
foisted on the Muslim community by Muslim and Hindu communal forces and which have been deliberately done to divert the attention of the people from the real issues
facing them. The meeting decided to initiate a massive nationwide campaign to educate
people on these issues.

The meting also adopted the following resolutions:

Resolution – I: Stop this violence!

India, the land which has given to the world the apostle of non-violence and peace has
been trapped in a growing cycle of religious intolerance, hatred and bestial violence in
the last 15-20 years. On one hand, the Sangh Parivar and its affiliates are engaged in
relentless hate propaganda and the militaristion of society to create the climate for
violence against minorities. On the other are a handful of Muslim extremists who have no
qualm in targeting innocents in the name of Islam. MSD unequivocally rejects violence
as a solution to social conflict and strongly condemns the perpetrators of both MOB
TERROR and BOMB TERROR.

Resolution – II: Rule of Law

The Constitution of India guarantees to every citizen equality before law and equal
protection of law. But sadly, far from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to protect the
life and liberty of ALL citizens, we have witnessed in recent years the disturbing fact of
an increasingly communalization of State institutions and personnel. Muslims for Secular
Democracy heartily welcomes the recent observation of the Supreme Court that a government that fails in its
Rajdharma of protecting innocent citizens and punishing the perpetrators of violence has no right to rule. It also supports the petition in the Supreme
Court of the National Human Rights Commission, the Citizens for Justice and Peace and
Zahira Shaikh for a retrial of the Best Bakery and other massacres in Gujarat last year
outside that state.

Resolution III: Uniform Civil Code

Muslims for Secular Democracy believes that all existing personal laws in the country,
the Hindu Code Bill included are unfair to women and urgently need reform. The need
for a uniform civil code is raised time and again. We feel that in a country like India,
which has a multiplicity of religions, cultures, customs and beliefs, a draft uniform
civil code, based on gender justice and which can be acceptable to all communities, should be
presented for discussion and debate.

It is ironical that in the forefront of the demand for a uniform civil code is the same
Sangh Parivar which has never shown any commitment to uniform justice and which had
staunchly opposed the Hindu Code Bill in 1956 which was aimed at protecting the rights
of women and granting them a share in property. The ideologue of the Sangh Parivar, Sri
Golwalkar had deemed the idea of a uniform civil code as mistaken and unwarranted.Muslims for Secular Democracy feels that the Sangh Parivar is not sincere in its
commitment to women's rights. Without any draft to offer on the issue, it keeps raising
the banner of uniform civil code merely to create anxiety and insecurity among Muslims.

A few days back, the deputy prime minister, Sri LK Advani declared that the uniform
civil code was a 'national necessity'. We urge him, his government, his party or his
Parivar to put before the nation a draft bill on the uniform civil code if they have any.
And it would be best if such a draft is put forward before the coming Assembly elections.
Otherwise, one would be forced to conclude that Shri Advani's statement is nothing but a
political gimmick with an eye on the polls.

Apart from a stinging critique of Hindutva, the declaration by this newly announced and formed Muslim group in Mumbai is remarkable for confronting and addressing the contentious issues that are flung like so much confetti on Muslims in India at large.

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Apart from a stinging critique of Hindutva, the declaration by this newly announced and formed Muslim group in Mumbai is remarkable for confronting and addressing the contentious issues that are flung like so much confetti on Muslims in India at large.